For a year now I've had my right nipple pierced and have felt somewhat lopsided. However, due to money restraints, and the fact the getting it done hurt like nothing else I've ever done, I stayed that way. After Christmas this year I realised I had some spare cash and decided it was time I evened up my nipples. I also wanted to get a long desired helix and thought I could save a trip and do them together. All I had to do was find a piercer!
At A Glance Author Nementai Contact Nementai@bme.anon IAM nementai When Three months ago Artist Carl Studio Bodydecor Location Liverpool, UK After being unimpressed by my experiences in 2 different, local studios, I trawled BME and the internet, hoping to find something that came recommended. It wasn't until I met a girl in a club with more metal than ear that I had any luck. She said all her piercings had been done by Carl at Bodydecor and couldn't say enough good things about him. After a look at the studio's very comprehensive website, I booked in for the beginning of March.
When I called, I was advised that as I was having two piercings together, and since I'm vegetarian, I should try to take some supplements to get my iron and zinc levels up to help my healing. Dutifully I got some multivits with these in and began dosing myself up.
Roll on the day of my appointment. My boyfriend was visiting so together we set off for Liverpool in the morning, leaving an hour to spare before my appointment. We found the studio no problems and went to Pizza hut to get some lunch. I was nervous by this point and had problems forcing my food down, but managed to tuck away a fair bit of food, knowing it'd do me good in the long run. When we were done, I bought two chocolate bars and a coke (I nearly passed out after my last nipple – black tunnel, sweating, the lot – so I wasn't taking any chances) and stuffed my face some more.Bodydecor is in Lewis', a big department store, and the last place you'd expect to find a piercing studio. We walked through the orange ladies in the makeup section and arrived just as the last customer was leaving. I went to the counter to book in and was greeted by Shirley, Carl's wife. She made me feel very welcome and giving me the book with their preparation and aftercare advice in directed me to take a seat on their very comfy sofas. Carl was begging Shirley to let him have a cigarette break at this point so they both went outside leaving the very cute Rob on the desk. I'd read the advice several times before but sat and looked through it again while I waited. They came back very soon and Carl came over to say hello. He asked me to wait a couple more minutes till he'd cleaned up his piercing room and I went to choose some jewellery with Shirley, who measured my nipple for the barbell. I picked out plain silver balls for both piercings – boring but at least I'd match the rest of my body!
Finally we were ready to go. I waved goodbye to my boyfriend and stepped into the piercing room.If I thought that the waiting room was clean, the piercing room was immaculate. It was cleaner than any hospital or dentist I've ever been to (not hard on the NHS, I know, but still. Very clean.). Shirley came with us (she stands in for all female 'intimates') which I found nice, despite not really being worried about getting half naked. I took off my top and bra and perched on the end of the bed. Carl washed his hands, put gloves on and brought over a cocktail stick with gentian violet (a purple, medical antiseptic) on it. He explained that as well as marking the spot for the piercing, it helps to ensure that the whole thing is really clean. He placed two tiny dots on either side of my nipple, checked them and then got Shirley to agree from further back that the dots were level. I then sat back on the bed and Carl told me to lay my head down too so I wouldn't have to look. He got me to practice taking a deep breath and then blowing it all out hard, before he took some forceps and very gently pinched my nipple out. I was really sweating at this point. I don't like pain and my first nipple had been a rather unpleasant experience! Carl was very reassuring though, he got me to breathe more and on my second exhale he pushed the needle through. I had to check that he'd actually done it – there was a brief moment of heat and then nothing. But it was through. I think I said "wow" at that point, and then he pulled the bar through and screwed me up. There was a very slight sting at this but nothing to term pain.
Carl then took a dressing (I can only describe it as medical sticky back plastic) and placed it over my nipple. He explained that since the environment was completely clean and the gentian violet would have sterilised the site, there was no way for any bacteria to grow under the dressing.
I sat there amazed at the speed of it all and the lack of pain for a bit, until Carl said "you can put your top back on now..." Oh yeah. I'd forgotten about that!
Once I was fully dressed again he took an antiseptic wipe to my ear (the theory being that your ear is prey to all sorts of stuff being touched by hair and open to the road and stuff) and again marked me with gentian violet. I told him anywhere near where my ear points was good and he said I had a great spot. I wasn't going to argue so he got on with it! I think he used the forceps again, though since I couldn't see, I can't be sure. I felt the same slight pressure, and again, a short hot sensation, and I was done.Out in the waiting room Carl went over after care again with me. He said I should leave the dressing on my nipple and when it fell off of its own accord, to soak any crusties off by dipping my nipple into a cup of salt soak, but to otherwise leave it alone. Carl is of the 'leave it the hell alone' school so I was only to clean it when crusties formed (same for my helix). This was a new idea to me, I'm used to using tea tree oil but he said it can irritate a fresh wound and I'd be ok without. After the professional piercing I'd just received I thought I'd go with it! Rob brought me over a sticker to show I'd been brave, a lolly and one of their loyalty cards (buy 10, get one free), I paid and left with a grin on my face. Walking around the shops, my nipple started to get sore. Despite wearing my sport's bra (I'm rather top heavy), I was jiggling as I walked and the motion was causing a rather painful ache. So we went to the pub (hurrah!). An hour or so sat down and I was fine and we made our way home.
I took my bra off that evening to reveal tiny bit of blood at either end of the barbell, I poked a little bit and there was no pain so I left it as it was and went to bed.
The next morning I woke up to discover I was laying on my front. I prepared myself for pain and rolled over, but I didn't feel a thing. A little more blood had collected, though it looked pretty horrific stuck down under the dressing, but otherwise it was great. Three days later the dressing came off in the shower and I was able to clean the dried blood off (much to my poor boyfriend's relief!) with a salt soak. It was a little scabby still the next morning so I soaked again. I think I did another one at the end of the week, as the ends were a little crusty but other than that I left it alone. There was no noticeable swelling and no blood other than the first couple of days.
My helix was sore for about a week, and I soaked it more regularly than my nipple, but I could soon sleep on it if I arranged the pillows carefully and other than the odd hair pulling accident, it has behaved well.
Two months on and my nipple doesn't bother me at all. After 1 week it was pain free, after 2 I didn't notice it anymore. It now brings me a lot of pleasure – aesthetically and sexually (yes, nipple piercings are GREAT for increasing sensitivity!). My helix is still a bit sore if I catch it, but it is settling down well.I'm really happy with my newest holes, I think my ear looks great and my chest is nice and balanced at last! Best of all, I've found a piercer who I now trust implicitly and feel happy to recommend to people. These were my least painful piercings and my fastest healing ones, and the service I received from the whole team at Bodydecor the best I've seen. Their almost holistic approach to piercing (general health of the piercee, preparation, relaxation and aftercare), and P.M.F.K. jewellery really suited me. I shall definitely be going back!